Kornelia Zimmermann, friend
The first time I really remember meeting Pegi was in summer of 2000. I was 14, spending my summer caring for friend’s kids as an Au pair and improving my English. My father and Phil were working colleagues and somehow, I promised to come and babysit Beth for an evening. Arriving in Riverdale Avenue, plans had changed and Phil couldn’t go to the concert but wanted to stay home. Peg asked me to join her for the concert. We spend a nice evening with the Dixi Chicks and while talking about my idea to spend an entire year abroad, she offered spontaneously I could stay with them. Two years later, I actually moved in…
I keep trying to find words describing my relationship to Pegi. It has been somewhat between a close family member and a good friend. She let me be part of her family and shared with me what she loved most – Beth. Beth was like my little sister for a year and much longer. Pegi was my host-mom and took that “job” seriously. Our relationship was not precisely a mother-daughter relationship but I definitely was part of her family. And for the past 18 years, I always knew I could come back home whenever I wanted.
She took me to her friends’ parties, family get-togethers, work trips to Temagami, grocery shopping… We often met in the early mornings, when she was about to walk the dog or had her cup of tea and I was up to go to school or whatever else activity. She took me to my first canoe trip (together with Phil, Chris and Beth) and we shared the love to nature.
I remember so well one trip back from Temagami: We were sitting in the car, listening to Beth’s children records and we could talk about anything. When the song “Somewhere over the rainbow” played, we stopped talking and started immediately singing the song aloud.
Pegi was such a caring person who always made sure, everyone else was fine. She rarely asked me to do anything. Yet, she was very happy and thankful to get support, for example walking the dogs or playing with Beth while she had to do something.
When Pegi died, I was at the end of pregnancy. Just few days later, my first daughter was born. I deeply hope, I can give her some of the good spirit of Pegi, her “third grandmother”, to take along for her life. And I’m sure, Peg is somewhere over the rainbow, watching us and trying to make sure, everyone is fine.